NBA forces LaMelo Ball to cover up his tattoos, and the reason is surprising

The NBA forced LaMelo Ball to cover up his tattoos. This is more than just an ink design, as the initials “LF” below his left ear violate rules against displaying commercial logos on players’ bodies.

These letters are an abbreviation for LaFrance, his middle name, and now his clothing brand. That’s why the NBA and Ball have had discussions about the tattoo in recent weeks. In the end, as almost always, the victory went to the NBA. Ball started covering it before Tuesday’s loss to Miami to avoid a fine from the league.

“Under the collective bargaining agreement, players are prohibited from displaying commercial logos or corporate insignia on their body or hair during games,” NBA spokesperson Tim Frank said in a statement to ESPN. “We strive to enforce the rules in a consistent manner.” LaMelo Ball’s neck tattoo is a clear violation of the rules, so he must cover it up. ”

Ball had a similar tattoo on his left hand, but it was much less noticeable than the design under his left ear that drew attention around the league in the preseason. Despite Ball’s attempts to surreptitiously convey that the letters represented his own middle name and the middle name of his uncle, his next of kin, all he had to do was go through the tube. This seems to indicate that.

Ball was the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, was named the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year, and was named to his first All-Star team in 2022. This season, he is averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 8.6 assists for the Hornets.